WASHINGTON, June 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM
(NYSE: IBM) today announced that it is creating the IBM
Center for Government Cybersecurity, a collaborative environment
focused on helping federal agencies address current and future
cybersecurity threats. The center will facilitate events and
learnings, drawing on IBM's cybersecurity expertise from delivering
software and managed services to over 17,500 security customers
globally. Working with a group of internal IBM experts and external
advisors, including former government officials with decades of
cybersecurity experience, the center will leverage IBM technology
and host workshops focused on priorities such as zero trust
frameworks and cloud security, complemented by access to IBM
Research labs to collaborate around the future of encryption.
As recent threats like SolarWinds and the Colonial Pipeline
ransomware attack against critical infrastructure have shown, the
threat landscape has crossed over from the digital world to the
physical. In fact, the 2021 IBM Security X-Force Threat
Intelligence Index found that ransomware accounted for 33% of
the attacks on government organizations in 2020. With the US
Federal government furthering its investment in hybrid cloud, new
approaches for cybersecurity should focus on protecting both
systems as well as data - no matter where it is – either on
premise, in the cloud, or at the edge.
The IBM Center for Government Cybersecurity will be housed at
IBM's offices in downtown Washington
DC. The new facility will feature secured laboratory space
where government customers can collaborate on unique solutions for
advanced security threats leveraging insights from demos of IBM
technologies and services. Initially, IBM will conduct virtual
sessions to accommodate any challenges to meeting in person, with
the capability to execute engagements at on-site customer
locations.
"IBM is committed to helping our US Federal government customers
meet cybersecurity modernization requirements – both for current
and future threats," said Stephen
LaFleche, General Manager Public and Federal Market, IBM.
"Hybrid cloud environments can provide an opportunity to implement
new technologies and techniques, like a zero trust framework and
advanced encryption – while helping make the government more
accessible and easier for citizens work with. These techniques are
also being applied in other highly regulated industries, such as
financial services, telecommunications and healthcare."
Center Exploring Current and Future Threats
A central goal of the IBM Center for Government Cybersecurity is
to provide access to information on cybersecurity technologies IBM
is using with the public and private sectors, and security
innovations being developed in IBM Research laboratories via
workshops. Some of initial examples of the sessions IBM will
conduct include:
- Adapting to a Zero Trust World – Exploring the
unique implementation needs for government to apply the core
principles of zero trust: least privilege access; never trust,
always verify; and assume breach. IBM will leverage blueprints from
successful public and private sector implementations to assist
agencies to plan their zero trust journey. The session will explore
four initiatives including: Securing the hybrid and remote
workforce, Reducing the risk of insider threats, Protecting the
hybrid cloud and Preserving customer privacy. As part of the
center, IBM can demonstrate the capabilities of IBM Cloud Pak for
Security to help orchestrate zero trust approaches. Customers can
also experience the IBM Zero Trust Acceleration workshop to
help manage new emerging requirements for a zero trust approach at
US Federal agencies – with added expertise via partnerships like
Zscaler and Illumio.
- Hybrid Cloud Security Challenges for Data
Portability – Part of adapting zero trust models is
disrupting the architecture design for IT systems. Agencies using
multi-cloud and multi-tenant environments may be looking to
securely modernize their applications and move data between on
premise and cloud environments. As part of this workshop, IBM
Security architects can demonstrate the use of trusted execution
environments, containers, and open standards as a reference point
for future hybrid cloud designs via IBM Security Services for
Cloud. IBM is also helping customers protect data across hybrid
environments for current threats. For example, IBM services
and technologies are designed to maintain the highest available
level of cryptographic key encryption protection to help
protect existing data in the cloud1 and prepare for
future threats that could evolve with advances in quantum
computing.
- The Future of Cryptography – With modern day
cryptographic techniques threatened by advancements in computing,
IBM Research is expanding its efforts in hardening this essential
technology. IBM currently has several Quantum-safe cryptography
standards in consideration with NIST and is at the forefront of
making data usable while encrypted via Fully Homomorphic Encryption
(FHE) and Confidential Computing. As part of this workshop, IBM
researchers can help US Federal agency teams understand the
implications that the technology will have on next-generation
architectures and security protocols. IBM Z helps agencies protect
against, and respond to threats, with technologies such as:
encryption everywhere for data at rest and in transit to protect
against data loss or corruption.
Expertise Available via IBM Center
The IBM Center for Government Cybersecurity Advisory Group
brings together former public sector leaders and private sector
experts that can advise US Federal customers on historical
challenges and help evaluate best practices for navigating current
and future regulations and orders. Access to the advisory group
will be made available via on-site and virtual conferences as well
as individual discussions. The Center Advisory Group will also
publish thought leadership and research on cybersecurity issues and
solutions.
Advisory group members include:
- Tony Scott - Former US Chief
Information Officer
- Curt Dukes - Former Information
Security/Cyber Security Lead for NSA
- Kiersten Todt - Former
Cybersecurity Advisor for President Obama
- Margaret Graves - Former Deputy
Federal CIO and Deputy DHS CIO
- Daniel Chenok - Former Branch
Chief for OMB
- Brian Dravis, Major General
(ret) - Former Director Joint Service Provider DISA, DOD
- Terry Halvorsen - Former DOD
CIO, DON CIO, and Deputy Commander Network Warfare Command
The world-renowned IBM Security X-Force research organization
will also be available via Center events. IBM Security X-Force
monitors 150 billion+ security events per day in more than 130
countries. Early access to research from X-Force will be available
for US Federal customers engaged via the Center.
US Federal agency customers seeking more information on the IBM
Center for Government Cybersecurity should speak to their IBM
representative or
visit: http://ibm.biz/us-federal-cyber-center
About IBM Security
IBM Security offers one of the most
advanced and integrated portfolios of enterprise security products
and services. The portfolio, supported by world-renowned IBM
Security X-Force research, enables organizations to effectively
manage risk and defend against emerging threats. IBM operates one
of the world's broadest security research, development and delivery
organizations, monitors 150 billion+ security events per day in
more than 130 countries, and has been granted more than 10,000
security patents worldwide. IBM Security offers a completely
flexible deployment model from consultancy, advice from industry
experts, advanced technology to managed security services. For more
information, please check www.ibm.com/security,
follow @IBMSecurity on Twitter or visit the IBM
Security Intelligence blog.
Media Contact:
Michael
Rowinski
IBM External Relations
rowinski@us.ibm.com
1 Encryption keys and cryptographic operations
are protected with highest level certified HSM - with Hyper
Protect Crypto services: FIPS 140-2 Level 4.
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SOURCE IBM